Spamfilters – protecting your e-mail

As the name implies, spamfilters are in the business of providing you with spam protection!
‘Spam’ is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.

 

Spam most notoriously comes in the shape of e-mail spam, but the term is applied to similar abuses in other media, e.g.:

 

Instant messaging spam – a.k.a. ‘spim’
Mobile phone messaging spam – a.k.a. ‘spasms’
Blog and wiki spam – a.k.a. ‘spomments’ or ‘blam’

 

In 2009, we have to accept the pervasive nature of spam – it is a fact of life, much like pollution. Until strong anti-spam laws are passed and actually enforced worldwide, spam proliferation will continue because it's proven to reach a mass audience.

If it didn't work, spammers wouldn't waste their time.

 

Keep your computer free from spam. Try BullGuard Internet Security now

Spam protection step 1: Avoiding it in the first place
There are several ways to block spam from your e-mail inbox. In the spirit of prevention as a cure, the very best way to protect yourself from spam is to avoid giving out your e-mail address to unfamiliar or unknown recipients.
Easier said than done, obviously!

 

Online shopping opens the floodgates to spam
Nowadays it's virtually impossible to shop online without providing a valid e-mail address, and even offline stores are asking for e-mail addresses in exchange for discounts or free merchandise. Potentially, this opens the door to a flood of unsolicited e-mails – all annoying and some dangerous.

 

Open up an e-mail account for likely spam offenders
Therefore, it might be wise to have more than one e-mail address: One for friends, family and colleagues - another for unfamiliar sources. There are plenty of free e-mail services in cyberspace to choose from.

 

Spam protection step 2: Install a spamfilter to protect your inbox
BullGuard’s Spamfilter will prevent spam from landing in your inbox. While no spamfilter is 100% spam-proof, installing one goes a long way towards detecting it and blocking it.
If you do get spam into your inbox anyway, BullGuard will advise you on how to deal with it, and if you have any questions you can of course always contact our Live Support Team who is at your beck and call 24/7.

 

Spam protection step 3: Treating it right
When it comes to spam there is only one way to treat it: Ignore and delete.
Do NOT open a message from an unknown source, do NOT click on anything in it (not links, not pictures, not anything), and do NOT open anything attached to it.
Do NOT ever respond to a message from an unknown source, even if it promises you wealth, health, sex, love and a lifelong supply of bananas.

 

If you act on spam they know you’re there!
By acting on spam, you will be confirming that your address is real – that you are a flesh-and-blood human being with a trusting nature and possibly money in the bank.

 

Remember: If it didn't work, spammers wouldn't waste their time.

 

Read our security articles and learn more about spam:

What is spam?
/news/security-articles/what-is-spam.aspx

 

How spammers make their money
/news/security-articles/how-spammers-make-their-money.aspx

 

What is phishing?
/news/security-articles/what-is-phishing.aspx

What are pump & dump schemes
/news/security-articles/what-are-pump--dump-schemes.aspx

 

What are 419 scams? (The Nigerian scam)
/news/security-articles/what-are-419-scams.aspx

 

What is a targeted attack?
/news/security-articles/what-is-a-targeted-attack.aspx

 

Malware and spam in blogs
/news/security-articles/malware-and-spam-in-blogs.aspx